WHAT IS THE
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT (CPA)?

Could it benefit Medfield?

Signed into law in 2000 by Gov. Paul Cellucci and Lt. Gov. Jane Swift, the CPA is a smart-growth tool that helps communities:

Preserve open space

Protect historic sites

Create affordable housing

Develop outdoor recreational facilities

A local Community Preservation Fund is fueled by a surcharge of 1%, 2% or 3% of property tax bills (not an increase in the tax rate), with the percentage amount decided by voters. Exclusions, (such as low-income residents, certain types of businesses, etc.) are also decided by voters.

In addition to local funds collected, communities receive annual distributions from the state Community Preservation Trust Fund, administered by the Department of Revenue. It’s like putting that 1-3% surcharge in a savings account that earns high interest.

It was recently announced that for 2015 alone, 156 communities together will receive $36 million from the CPA Trust Fund thanks to a 29.7% state contribution*. Medfield was not among them since we have yet to adopt the CPA. (*Source: www.communitypreservation.org)

Norfolk, Medway, Millis, Holliston and Needham are some of the nearby towns that have benefited from the CPA.

Many of the proposed projects at the Medfield State Hospital site could qualify for CPA funding.

Osler ”Pete” Peterson

Medfield Select Board member

I started this blog to share the interesting and useful information that I saw while doing my job as a Medfield select board member. I thought that my fellow Medfield residents would also find that information interesting and useful as well. This blog is my effort to assist in creating a system to push the information out from the Town House to residents. Let me know if you have any thoughts on how it can be done better.

For information on my other job as an attorney (personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate), please feel free to contact me at 617-969-1500 or Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com.

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